Magic Johnson vs. Tom Sanders Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Tom Sanders and Magic Johnson that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Magic Johnson

vs.

Tom Sanders

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96
Tom Sanders: 1960-61 to 1972-73

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Magic Johnson 5 Tom Sanders 8

NBA Seasons Magic Johnson 13 Tom Sanders 13

Playoffs Played Magic Johnson 13 Tom Sanders 11

All-Star Games Magic Johnson 12 Tom Sanders 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Magic Johnson 3 Tom Sanders 0

Finals MVP Magic Johnson 3 Tom Sanders 0 *

All-NBA First Team Magic Johnson 9 Tom Sanders 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Magic Johnson 10 Tom Sanders 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Magic Johnson 0 Tom Sanders 1

Assists Leader Magic Johnson 4 Tom Sanders 0

Steals Leader Magic Johnson 2 Tom Sanders 0 *

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 19.5 Tom Sanders 9.6

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 7.2 Tom Sanders 6.3

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 11.2 Tom Sanders 1.1

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 1.9 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.4 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Magic Johnson 17,707 Tom Sanders 8,766

Total Rebounds Magic Johnson 6,559 Tom Sanders 5,798

Total Assists Magic Johnson 10,141 Tom Sanders 1,026

Total Steals Magic Johnson 1,724 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Total Blocks Magic Johnson 374 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Total Games Magic Johnson 906 Tom Sanders 916

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Magic Johnson .520 Tom Sanders .428

3-Point Percentage Magic Johnson .303 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Magic Johnson .848 Tom Sanders .767

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987) Tom Sanders 12.6 (1966)

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982) Tom Sanders 9.5 (1962)

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984) Tom Sanders 1.6 (1970)

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981) Tom Sanders - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984) Tom Sanders - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 19.5 Tom Sanders 8.8

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 7.7 Tom Sanders 5.8

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 12.3 Tom Sanders 1.0

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 1.9 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.3 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Magic Johnson 3,701 Tom Sanders 1,142

Total Rebounds Magic Johnson 1,465 Tom Sanders 760

Total Assists Magic Johnson 2,346 Tom Sanders 127

Total Steals Magic Johnson 358 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Total Blocks Magic Johnson 64 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Total Games Magic Johnson 190 Tom Sanders 130

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Magic Johnson .506 Tom Sanders .436

3-Point Percentage Magic Johnson .241 Tom Sanders - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Magic Johnson .838 Tom Sanders .716

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990) Tom Sanders 13.5 (1966)

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981) Tom Sanders 8.5 (1965)

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985) Tom Sanders 1.6 (1966)

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980) Tom Sanders - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 1.0 (1981) Tom Sanders - n/a **

Notes: ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.